Lawmakers at Odds Over Constitutional Property Tax Caps

As the Indiana Legislature heads into the final two weeks of the 2008 session, tensions are rising over how and if property tax caps should be made permanent in the state constitution.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

House Approves Illegal Immigration Bill

Legislators in the Indiana House today voted in favor of a bill that seeks to crack down on illegal immigration in the state.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Governor Signs Workplace Breastfeeding Bill

Governor Mitch Daniels has signed a bill that could make it easier for working moms to breastfeed their infants.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Senate Approves Pull Tabs at Bars

A bill that would expand legalized gambling by allowing pull tabs at bars and taverns has been approved by the Indiana Senate.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Property Tax Caps Advance in House

The Indiana House of Representatives today voted in favor of a constitutional cap on homeowner property tax bills based on income rather than a home’s assessed value.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Lawmaker Seeks Crackdown on Toys with Lead Paint

The Indiana House of Representatives has approved a bill amendment that would allow individuals made sick by toys with lead paint to sue importers and wholesalers of those toys.  The provision was added today to a bill that already seeks to prevent childhood access to lead base paint.  That bill requires lead paint testing in day care centers and rental properties.  The addition of penalties regarding toys with lead paint was made my Representative Shelli Vandenburgh of Crown Point. While the amendment regarding lead paint in toys was approved, the full bill will be voted on in the House later this week. 

Number of Indiana Arts Jobs Goes Up

A report released today by the national organization Americans for the Arts, Indiana added nearly a thousand arts-related businesses in 2007.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Chamber Ranks Best Places to Work

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has released its third annual list of top employers in the state.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.

Immigration Bill Moves Forward

A bill that seeks to penalize businesses who knowingly hire undocumented workers took another step forward in the Indiana House of Representatives today.  That’s after Republicans boycotted a measure to incorporate the immigration bill into a separate bill Thursday night. Today the merge of the two bills was approved.  Minority Leader Brian Bosma of Indianapolis, upset that the move would prevent he and other Republicans from making any changes, immediately protested.

In its current form, the measure requires state police to enter into an agreement with the federal government to enforce immigration and customs law.  A final vote on the plan is expected tomorrow.

This Week at the Indiana Statehouse

This week the House Ways and Means Committee made major changes to a plan for constitutional property taxes.  Also Governor Mitch Daniels signed a major water use agreement and lawmakers in the House sparred over an illegal immigration bill.  Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Marianne Holland reports.